There won't be another emotional TD Garden return Friday night. At least not for Kevin Garnett.

The Brooklyn Nets announced that Garnett will not make the trip to meet his former team, the Boston Celtics. The veteran big man has missed Brooklyn's three previous games with back spasms.

Paul Pierce will make the trip. Though it probably won't be as emotionally charged as his first return to the TD Garden earlier this season, when the Celtics held video tributes for both stars, Pierce said going back to Boston will always mean something.

"I think as long as I’m in the league its going to be tough because I know I am going to have to come back to the Boston Garden," Pierce said in January after his first away game in Boston. "It is what it is when you put so much time and energy in one spot. When you come back there’s always going to be memories and there’s nothing you’re going to escape. As long as I’m able to come back to the Boston garden , as long as I’m going to be able to play games its going to be tough."